Green County Cheese Days

This is a BIG DEAL for Monroe and Green County. Definitely a not-​to-​be-​missed celebration of Swiss and rural/​farm culture. 3^rd weekend of September in EVEN-​NUMBERED years (2016 — 2018 — 2020, etc.)

Should be called Minhas and cheese days. I came up from Madison, the drive was pretty! The festival was large and hard to miss.
It was much larger than expected. I walked in to grilled cheese, cheese curds, cream puffs, and beer. I heard the cheese puffs was where the party was at but I decided to go with the grilled cheese from one of the tents. It was way boring. For a cheese fest, I was expecting something that had a little bit of personality but it was just blah.
The cheese tent was ok. You had to fight the crowd to get any cheese and yeah, there was a good variety but you can almost get the same variety from a good cheese shop, such as my fave, Ehlenbach’s. You do not even have to fight crowds there.
The one saving grace was Minhas and their bandstand. Their beer was cheaper, there was a big band playing that actually made me want to boogie and the people watching was prime.
I think I would go again but I would have to for sure rethink the plan. I did at one point refer to this as the Disneyland of cheese, long lines for about 10 seconds of glory.

I have attended 8 of these events and they are always enjoyable. The event is centered around learning about making cheese, cheese tasting, dairy farm tours, polka music and other events.

Great festival, great food. Don’t waste your time in the cheese sample tent. Nobody understands the concept of a line and are pushy and rude. Other than that it’s great!

This is amazing! One of the best times in town countywide! Bring your family your children and your appetite. Welcome to Green County!

Cheese + drunks + Wisconsin charm = a lot of fun! One September weekend, every other year, in Cheeseland, USA is a great time. From sampling fried cheese curds to strolling about the city square, to watching the exciting parade is a classic stitch of this rural farm town.

Cheese Days in Monroe is every other year. I went for the first time 2 years ago (2008) with my parents and cousins because my sister and her hubby live nearby.
There is a lot going on and if you miss an event (like the beer & cheese tasting), you can often catch it later in the day!
I dont know what else to say, so I will end with this: Fried Cheese Curds are the BEST! There is always a line, but it is worth the wait — please wait in that line! You will not regret it, I promise.
I will be attending Cheese Days for the second time this weekend! Cant wait!

A Must in Life.

Every two years (the evens), Green County straps on its lederhosen, clears its throat, and prepares for the yodeling good time that is Cheese Days… held in Monroe, Wisconsin («Little Switzerland»), home of the Monroe Cheesemakers…
I have family who lives up here, so I’ve honed my skill of eating fresh, deep-​fried cheese curds (without burning the roof of my mouth, thank you!) and basically subsisting on cheese in all varieties for the entire weekend (with the occasional massive homemade ice cream bar and cream puff).
Visit the massive cheese tent to taste-​test all sorts of cheese (Got Limburger… no thanks for this flatlander!), hit up the stage for some concerts including the Monroe City Band and the Swiss Choir (yodel-hoo-hoo)…buy your tickets and then stand in line for a portion of the deep fried cheese curds. The line is worth it, trust me! And wash it all down with a nice cold beer from Bomgartners. Cheese and beer, all weekend, my version of heaven.
The square is a happening place once the lights go down, and 2008 was the first year they allowed drinking outside (hurray for that!)…but only ’til 11:00 p.m. I recommend hitting up the massive beer garden at the Swiss Haus after 11 to continue that oktoberfest vibe going on.
Lots of activities from cow-​milking contests, to the craft fair (if you’re in the need for a new dream-​catcher), a fun walk, 5K or a 10K, take your pick (but beware of the effects of imbibing in the aforementioned Bomgartners the night before a mostly uphill 5K… YIKES!), with a souvenir t-​shirt.
Well-​worth the trip from Chicago for something just a little bit different.

Mark your calendars for the 3^rd weekend of September, because you don’t want to miss the biggest CHEESE festival in the US!!!
That’s right… it’s Cheese Days.
Cheese Days includes (but isn’t limited to):
1. Fried Cheese Curds
2. Beer, beer, and more beer
3. Yodeling
4. Cow milking contest
5. 3 days of beer & cheese!!!
6. Polka dancing
7. Tours of Minhas Craft Brewery
8. Crowning of the Cheese Day’s Prince & Princess
9. Parades
10. Cream puffs (with real whipped cream!!!)
11. Kettle corn
12. Cheese tent